As Wanderers host Burton Albion on Saturday afternoon in their latest league outing, bwfc.co.uk highlights five talking points ahead of the Whites' Sky Bet Championship clash with the Brewe.

1. Home form

Wanderers head into this weekend's game with Burton Albion unbeaten from their last five matches at Macron Stadium.

Opening October, November and December with victories against Sheffield Wednesday, Norwich City and Barnsley respectively, the Whites had only late goals to curse for not also clinching maximum points against Queens Park Rangers and Reading.

Now hosting the Brewers at BL6, Phil Parkinson's men will be looking to make home advantage count once again heading into a busy festive period.

Can Bolton maintain their recent home form? Get down to Macron Stadium this Saturday and back the boys! Buy tickets online HERE!

2. Bouncing back

After losing just two of their last ten outings, the Trotters' will be determined to bounce back at the first time of asking this weekend after last Saturday's frustrating defeat to Nottingham Forest.

Out of the Sky Bet Championship relegation zone on goal difference, Wanderers' next run of fixtures could be decisive come the end of the season.

Facing off against the second tier's current basement club, a victory for the Whites would offer real momentum with every point vital in the upcoming festive run of games.

3. Team news

Having returned to training towards the end of the week, a late decision will be made on Bolton captain Darren Pratley as he continues to contend with a knee problem.

Elsewhere, David Wheater could return at the heart of defence after sitting out last weekend's defeat to Nottingham Forest while Adam Le Fondre is likely to sit out after suffering with tonsillitis.

4. Six-pointer?

The Trotters currently sit two points and three places above 24th placed Burton Albion as the season nears its midway point, highlighting how quickly things could change in the Sky Bet Championship relegation fight this year.

Above Sunderland by a point while only ahead of Birmingham City on goal difference, Saturday's game is a real six-pointer as Wanderers look to make a statement of intent heading into the festive period.

Win and they should stay ahead of the chasing pack. Drop points and they face falling back into the relegation zone, with at least Burton guaranteed to overtake them if they come out on top against the Whites this weekend.

Whatever happens, Bolton will need their vocal support on Saturday and over the second half of the season. Be loud, be proud and back the boys!

5. Signing session

Bolton Central will be hosting a signing session prior to Saturday's game against Burton, with two players present in the club's retail outlet to meet fans from 2pm onwards.

With the Trotters' 2017/18 home and away shirts back in stock in stock, plenty of Christmas stocking-fillers on offer including 'Wanderers Return', the club's 2016/17 promotion-winning commemorative book, and Bolton's official matchday programme, 'The Wanderer', also on sale, fans will have plenty of opportunities to get merchandise signed!

Report: Bolton Wanderers 3-1 Barnsley

Wanderers picked up all three points with a hard-earned victory over Barnsley at Macron Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The deadlock was broken with 20 minutes on the clock as Gary Madine bundled home Mark Little's cross, but the visitors were back level two minutes later through Tom Bradshaw's penalty kick.

Bolton's advantage was restored before the break however, with Madine slotting home from a spot-kick of his own, before assist provider Little got on the scoresheet with a superb individual effort in the 70th minute with the scoreline remaining as such come full time.

TEAM NEWS

Phil Parkinson made two changes to the starting line up with Reece Burke coming in for the suspended David Wheater, while Will Buckley came in for Adam Armstrong who was named among the substitutes.

FIRST HALF

Buckley saw plenty of the ball early on and his knock-down for Josh Vela presented the hosts with their first chance. However, the midfielder was unable to connect sufficiently with the volley.

Vela then put in a lovely cross for Gary Madine at the far post, but the striker was unable to direct his header past Adam Davies.

Wanderers’ early dominance paid off after 20 minutes when Madine bundled in Mark Little’s centre after the full back made a great run to the by-line.

The visitors’ put themselves back into the contest two minutes later when Tom Bradshaw converted from the spot after Reece Burke was harshly adjudged to have committed the foul.

Wanderers were back in front just before the break when they won a penalty themselves. The lively Buckley was upended and it took an age for referee Oliver Langford to point to the spot. But Madine made no mistake as he sent Davies the wrong way with an emphatic low strike.

SECOND HALF

After a sluggish start to the second half, Ben Alnwick was pressed into making a full stretch save to keep out George Moncour’s effort after the midfielder was allowed time and space in the Wanderers box.

Wanderers survived a goalmouth scramble after Mark Beevers’ lost his footing in a dangerous area. Ben Alnwick was at his most agile as he kept out several attempts before the ball was eventually thumped clear off the line.

Full back Jason McCarthy was the next Barnsley player to test Alnwick as the Wanderers ‘keeper got his body in the way of the defender’s drive at the expense of a corner.

The Tykes were firmly in the ascendancy and seemed determined to get back on terms.

Parkinson made his first substitution on the hour mark with Armstrong coming on for Buckley.

Wanderers’ third came in scintillating style and will probably be a goal of the season contender. It came from the unlikeliest of sources in Mark Little. The full back, who was having an exceptional game anyhow, went on a mazy run down the right flank before cutting in with his right foot and firing beyond Davies with an exquisite finish.

Just a minute later and Wanderers could have increased their advantage through substitute Armstrong who narrowly fired wide with a right footed curler.

Barnsley were still on the hunt for a second goal and Alnwick once again had to be alert to prevent Brad Potts from firing home.

Barnsley sub Mamadou Thiam was causing a nuisance and was the main source of the Tykes’ attacking threat going into the final stages of the game. He forced an important stop from Alnwick after creating space for himself.

Aaron Wilbraham was Wanderers’ third and final substitute when he replaced two-goal hero Madine with just five minutes remaining.

Despite seven minutes being indicated at the end of the regulation 90, the Whites could taste victory and set about keeping the Tykes at bay.

There was still time for heroics from Alnwick, with him somehow keeping Bradshaw's drive through a crowded penalty area out.

But come full time, the visitors just couldn't find a way through to force late drama with Wanderers running out deserved winners.

Get behind the team and buy your Barnsley tickets now!

Bolton Wanderers will be looking to bounce back to winning ways when they face Barnsley at Macron Stadium tomorrow with tickets still available!

Phil Parkinson’s men are unbeaten in four games on home soil and will be looking for the maximum three points when they face the Tykes and you can buy your tickets online and print them at home now.

Wanderers defender Mark Beevers is looking for a maximum and clean sheet against his home town club, and is eager to consign last Saturday’s result against Wolves to history.

The centre half said: “The next chance is Barnsley on Saturday and I want that clean sheet, which gives us the best possible chance of winning the game. Three points would be very nice on Saturday, and we’ve sat down with the manager and looked at things we can do better. Now it’s time to put that into practice.

“I don’t look at the table too much because you can’t affect it by poring over it and going over where you think you can pick up points,” he said. “ But if we can make up ground on Barnsley or any of the clubs above us then that is a good thing.

“We go out there on Saturday for three points, regardless of who we’re playing against.”

Tickets can be bought online now and are priced at £28 for adults, £22 for persons aged under 23 or over 65, £11 for under 18s and £9 for children under the age of 12.

Get down to Macron Stadium this Saturday and get behind the team as they go for three points!

You can book them online now by clicking here , by calling 0844 871 2932 or by visiting Bolton Central in person.